Juggalos rally in D.C. to protest gang label they say is wrong and harmful

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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, asre protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, asre protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Shaggy 2 Dope of Isane Clown Posse speaks before the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: (R) Violent J of Insane Clown Posse speaks before the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, asre protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: (R) Violent J of Insane Clown Posse speaks with (L) Shaggy 2 Dope before the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: (R) Violent J of Insane Clown Posse before the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: The Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, asre protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: The Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: (L) Shaggy 2 Dope and (R) Violent J of Insane Clown Posse speak before the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March takes off from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, asre protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Fans of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, march around the Washington Monument during a protest on September 16, 2017 in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

Fans of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, march around the Washington Monument during a protest on September 16, 2017 in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: The Juggalo March starts from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, on September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Ganf Threat Assessment, (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as a gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Joseph William Utsler, who goes by the stage name Shaggy 2 Dope, of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, leads a group of his fans, known as Juggalos, a march on September 16, 2017 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in protest of a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: People gather for a rally during the Juggalo March at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as a gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: "Ape" from Oakland, CA attends the Juggalo March at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as a gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Fans of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, march around the Washington Monument during a protest on September 16, 2017 in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

Fans of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, march around the Washington Monument during a protest on September 16, 2017 in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

A fan of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse wears buttons depicting members of the group on a hat during a protest on September 16, 2017 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

A fan of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse wears a necklace bearing the logo of the record company, Psychopathic Records, who represent the band along with associated acts, during protest on September 16, 2017 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. against a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: A woman paints her face in the same style as Shaggy 2 Dope from the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, during the Juggalo March, at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as a gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

Joseph Bruce, who goes by the stage name Violent J, of the US rap group Insane Clown Posse, leads a group of his fans, known as Juggalos, a march on September 16, 2017 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in protest of a 2011 FBI decision to classify their movement as a gang. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images

From left, sisters Melina, 17, and Tiffany Baker, 12, and Jajuan Dunkins, 17, join other juggalos, as supporters of the rap group Insane Clown Posse are known, in front of the Reflecting Pool along the National Mall in Washington during a rally, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. The event was to demand that the FBI rescind its classification of the juggalos as "loosely organized hybrid gang." (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Joseph Utsler, known as Shaggy 2 Dope from the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, leads the Juggalo March, at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, September 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Fans of the band Insane Clown Posse, known as Juggalos, are protesting their identification as a gang by the FBI in a 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — The steps of the Lincoln Memorial have been the scene of solemn protest for decades, but when one man shouted “Show us your butthole!” on Saturday it was clear that the Juggalo March on Washington was going to be like no other.

Tattooed, pierced and wearing clown makeup, hundreds of fans of the rap-metal group Insane Clown Posse gathered at the storied location to protest the FBI’s labeling the fan base a gang in 2011.

One protester circulated in a “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”-style mask, another in lingerie and a third in football shoulder pads. They raised their middle fingers, cursed and whooped.

The style was outrageous, but the purpose was serious: Juggalos, as the band’s hardcore fans are known, said the gang label is unfair and has cost them jobs, gotten them suspended from school, barred from the military and entered into gang databases.

Amie Puterbaugh, 36, from outside of Dayton, Ohio, traveled to the District of Columbia with two friends for the rally. She said she had been profiled by police in Ohio because of the gang designation.

“It’s bulls—!” Puterbaugh said of the gang label. “It’s like labeling Deadheads a gang. It’s like labeling Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters a gang. If we don’t stand up for our First Amendment rights, who is next?”

Insane Clown Posse, which got its start in Detroit in 1989, blends rap, metal and carnival theatrics. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope take the stage in clown makeup and douse their fans with cheap Faygo-brand soda.

The band has sold millions of albums and inspired one of the most loyal and notorious followings in pop music, while largely remaining outside the mainstream.

Six years ago the FBI labeled Juggalos a gang in a biennial gang report that serves as a reference for law enforcement nationwide.

The move followed a string of crimes from arson to homicide that were committed by people who were identified as Juggalos over the previous five or six years.

The label angered the band and its fans, who said it was inaccurate and effectively criminalized being fans of a pop group. Many not associated with gangs said they have been stopped by police while wearing band-related shirts or other gear.

The problems sparked a campaign by the band and its fans to get the FBI to disavow the label.

In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the FBI on behalf of a handful of Juggalos, saying the gang label violated the fans’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly.

The federal suit was dismissed last year on technical grounds, but the ACLU is appealing that ruling.

Kevin Gill, a well-known Juggalo, kicked off the rally Saturday with a passionate plea for the FBI to rescind the gang label. He told Juggalos it was the most important day of their lives.

“Can I get a ‘whoop-whoop’ we can hear in the White House!” he said from a stage in front of the memorial.

The crowd obliged with a deep “Whoop-whoop!”

“The Juggalo March is like the Boston Tea Party for music fans,” Gill said.

Marchers held signs that said “American Juggalo Taxpayer” and “Faygo not Fascism.”

An FBI spokeswoman said the agency could not comment on the march or the Juggalo lawsuit, but it did make a general statement about its 2011 report, which was based on information gathered from local police departments.

“The 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment was comprised of information shared with the National Gang Intelligence Center and the FBI from law enforcement agencies around the country,” it read. “The 2011 report specifically noted that the Juggalos had been recognized as a gang in only four states.”

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